Fast fashion brands that rose to prominence in the early 2000s are now under increasing scrutiny for the environmental damage they cause.
As a result, industry data shows a new wave of eco-conscious consumers are turning towards sustainable fashion brands instead.
Today we present the latest official sustainable fashion statistics, verified and updated for 2025.
Our research reveals the current state of the industry, the demand for clothes made from sustainable materials, and the projections for the future in this sector.
We also look at the scale of the waste, pollution, water consumption, and environmental damage caused by fast fashion, which demonstrates just why a change to sustainable clothing and circular business models is necessary.
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Sustainable fashion refers to brands that source, manufacture, distribute and sell their goods in a way that minimizes their environmental impact.
This might include reducing carbon emissions, using organic or recycled materials, biodegradable packaging, and paying workers a fair wage.
These sustainable fashion facts highlight an industry that has experienced rapid growth in recent years and can yield significant opportunities over the next decade.
The sustainable fashion market has seen significant growth in recent years, as attitudes toward environmentalism have changed.
Sustainable and ethical fashion has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and the rate of growth is projected to accelerate in the future.
Sustainable fashion brands that can establish themselves as trusted names in this space have the potential to be profitable as well as do good.
There are significant opportunities in the eco-friendly and sustainable fashion market segments that indicate a genuine profit potential in the coming years.
These statistics show us who is buying sustainable and ethical fashion (and also who is not, and why).
They also demonstrate a genuine demand for more "slow fashion" and the factors that are stopping more people from buying from sustainable brands.
Statistics show that fast fashion brands do target particular demographics, and traditionally these brands have directed their advertising toward younger people.
Social media platforms, and the influencers that market products on them, have been one of the driving forces behind the growth of cheap, low-quality, and disposable clothes.
The data shows that the low prices associated with fast fashion often encourage multiple purchases. But overall sales in this sector are falling.
An increasing environmental awareness, especially amongst some younger people, has begun a shift away from fast fashion towards more ethical, sustainable, and environmentally friendly fashion.
Young and middle-aged men are most likely to stick solely to sustainable clothing brands, and those that do are also more likely to buy second-hand or recycled clothes.
Despite generally having less disposable income, millennials are more likely to be willing to spend more on sustainable, environmentally conscious, upcycled clothing, and ethical fashion brands.
Yes, these 7 market research statistics show that there is substantial consumer demand for sustainable fashion.
However, some consumers are worried about greenwashing in this space, and others don't know where to find sustainable clothing.
It's no secret that there are serious environmental concerns around the way the fashion industry currently operates.
But how bad is it, and what might happen if the sustainable fashion revolution does not take off? These statistics lay bare the truth, and some of it is worse than you might expect.
These statistics show the extent to which the fashion industry contributes to both water pollution and climate change.
The statistics demonstrate that fast fashion encourages overproduction, overbuying, and therefore massive amounts of textile waste.
The fast fashion industry is driven by profits and very rarely uses sustainable materials in its products. Instead, these fashion companies create garments using non-renewable resources which, by their very definition, cannot be sustainable.
They also exploit workers in their supply chain who are subjected to unacceptable working conditions and do not get a fair wage.
The data clearly shows that the fashion sector does not as a whole use sustainable practices, and does a huge amount of damage to our rivers and oceans.
It's no secret that the fashion industry is under a huge amount of public pressure over the negative environmental impact of its carbon emissions, water consumption, and pollution.
But is that fair, and is sustainable fashion the answer?
These sustainable fashion statistics should allow you to come to your own conclusion based on evidence rather than opinion.
Are you concerned about the environmental and health impact of synthetic fibers? Would you be prepared to pay more for clothing made from sustainable raw materials such as organic cotton? Would you go further and buy garments made from recycled plastic or fibers, or even shop second-hand?
The data shows that for an increasing number of consumers, the answer is yes.
Business Research | Eco-Age | Ellen MacArthur Foundation/ | Genomatica | Global Fashion Agenda | HBR | IISD | Internet Retailing | McKinsey | McKinsey | National Geographic | PayPal Newsroom | Research & Markets | Shopper Profile Report | UN | UNCTAD | UNEP | Vogue Business | YouGov | MMR